Windward Secrets (15 page)

Diane stopped rocking. “So do we Caroline, you’ve come a long way.”

***

On the roof, with cold beer and hot pizza, the foursome sat cross-legged around the open pizza box.

“This is great,” Claire said. “We really need to do this more often.”

Jill stopped chewing and said with sarcasm, “Do what? Try to get ourselves killed?”

“Oh, come on Jill, it’s not that bad.”

“Not yet,” Caroline said. “But I have to admit I’m nervous. Wendell may be planning something bad.”

“Let’s just see if we can make a boat connection and, if we do, we’ll turn everything over to the state police,” Claire pleaded. “We’re so close.”

Diane pulled her phone from her pocket. “No messages from Ed. He must not have found anything yet. I agree with Caroline, this is getting too close for comfort. We make this connection and then we’re done.”

“You’re right,” Claire agreed, reluctantly. “I think we were brought here for a reason and we’ve done the best we can. This may be enough to convict Wendell.”

Jill fanned a hot flash with a paper plate. “That’s the best news I’ve had in days. I want to be done with this so I can concentrate on Drew.”

“And, I want to concentrate on painting,” Caroline said.

“I just want to concentrate on staying alive long enough to see Ed again,” Diane added.

Claire stalled for time. “I want to know Betsy’s at peace.”

Jill threw the paper plate at Claire. “Oh, Claire, why do you always have to be so deep? Couldn’t you just say something like, ‘oh I don’t know, like maybe you want a million dollars or something?’”

“That would be nice. I’ll go with that,” Claire said, laughing as she caught the plate before it blew off the roof.

Chapter Ten

Saturday

“Has anyone noticed?” Claire asked, at breakfast.

Jill turned around from the stove. “Noticed what?”

“Ike’s been calmer and there have been no mysterious fires in the fireplace.”

Diane sat down her coffee mug. “You’re right. Why do you suppose that is?”

“I don’t know, but I would like to spend some time in the house alone,” Claire answered.

Jill slammed a spatula down on the counter. “That… is not going to happen! Two-by-two, remember? We are not taking any chances until Wendell is locked up.”

“She’s right Claire,” Caroline added. “Safety first.”

“You know, the lighthouse will be open for tours today. Let’s take a lunch and ride out there again. I’d really like to see the view from the top.” Diane said, changing the subject.

“Me too,” Jill said.

Claire set her coffee mug down and played with the plastic daisies in the center of the table. “On one condition.”

“And, what might that be?” Caroline eyed her.

“That tonight we have dinner at the restaurant overlooking the docks, just in case Wendell makes an appearance.”

Diane swallowed a mouthful of food and asked, “Why would he do that?”

“To go night fishing,” Claire replied, with a sinister look.             

Jill, Diane, and Caroline looked at each other and nodded. “Okay, but this is it and then we’re done sleuthing,” Jill said.

Claire agreed and they finished their breakfasts.

“I wish we could take Ike,” Claire said, pulling her ponytail through the hole at the back of her ball cap and slathering sunscreen on her arms and legs.

“Me too,” Jill answered. “But I think it’s be too far for him. Besides, isn’t it better that he stay here and guard the house?”

“Yes, of course.”

Diane walked down the front steps of Windward Cottage with the bike map in her hands. “Why don’t we take a different road to the lighthouse? Look here. There’s a road that goes around the other side of the peninsula along the coast. It might be a little easier peddling.”

Claire looked at the map. “You’re right, Diane. Let’s do that.”

Jill secured the lunch in the basket on her handlebars. Diane tied the insulated bag with drinks in her basket. Caroline slipped her backpack with the research material over her shoulders. Claire put the bike map, a beach blanket, and sunscreen into her basket and they set off.

The good weather brought more traffic to the Cape for the weekend. People were walking on the beach or sitting on porches of the houses they passed. Pedaling was easier on this road and Claire felt herself relax into a steady cadence. Snatching glimpses of the ocean as she rode, she saw the ever-present seagulls trying to charm beachgoers out of their lunches. In the distance, black and yellow, wet-suited surfers straddling their surfboards bobbed up and down on the swells waiting for the perfect wave. The four bikers entered the lighthouse, parking area on the opposite side from their first visit and locked their bikes. A Boy Scout Troop was picking up litter while visitors snapped pictures of the lighthouse.

“Let’s take the lighthouse tour,” Jill said. “It looks like it’s open today.”

Diane tilted her head back and shaded her eyes with her hand looking up at the stately structure. “Wow! That’s high. I bet the view is spectacular.”

A Coast Guard Cadet greeted them at the door. “Welcome, ladies. You’re just in time to join us.” There were two young couples standing just inside the door. Once Jill, Caroline, Diane, and Claire entered, the cadet closed the door and started his speech. The diameter of the room they were standing in was not very large and the spiral staircase leading up to the light took up most of the space. The cadet explained the lighthouse had been built in the 1880s and originally had been manned by a lighthouse keeper and his family. Over the years, it became the property of the U.S. Coast Guard and, in the 1950s, the light was automated and there was no longer a need for a lighthouse keeper. As he slowly climbed the staircase, the cadet explained the old versus the new operation of lighthouses and the intricacies of the Fresnel lens that rotated at the top, forewarning ships of the dangers along the coastline.

Halfway up the stairs, the women were more interested in getting to see the view than the history of the lighthouse. The one thing they did hear was that there were two hundred twenty-three steps to the top. Jill audibly groaned when Caroline announced they only had ninety-seven more steps to go. Motioning the rest of the group ahead, the foursome took a break hanging onto the thin steel railing and second guessing their decision to climb to the top.

“This is far enough for me. You three go ahead. I’ll sit here and wait for you,” Jill wheezed.

“What did we tell you about those cigarettes,” Diane laughed.

“I don’t smoke and you know it Diane. You go on up. You can tell me about the view later.”

Claire pushed Jill gently from behind. “You can do it. Just take your time. It’ll be worth it.”

Breathless, they stepped out onto the catwalk that encircled the light. Gazing in all directions Jill exclaimed, “Holy mackerel. It was worth it! This is magnificent.”

Jill jumped at the voice of the cadet behind her. “Take your time ladies. When everyone’s ready, we’ll descend together.”

Jill batted her eye lashes trying to look young and flirty. “You will carry me down right?”

The cadet laughed and moved to answer a question from one of the young men.

Caroline removed her backpack, retrieved the binoculars, and was looking at the view when Claire asked, “Where did you get those?”              

“I found them on the steps to the roof the other morning.” Handing them to Claire she added, “Here, have a look.”             

Claire took the binoculars but gave Caroline a puzzled look. “Caroline, they were not there any of the other times we went up those stairs.”

“I thought one of you set them there.” Looking at the others they all shook their heads no.

Caroline stared at the others and nonchalantly shrugged. “Our guest must have left them.”

Claire put the binoculars to her eyes and slowly scanned 360 degrees around the lighthouse. “This really is incredible.” Looking toward the beach she zeroed in on the surfers. “I believe that’s Deputy O’Reilly out there surfing,” she commented. Then lowering the glasses to the beach road below, she followed it around the base of the lighthouse and down the opposite side of the point. She didn’t move for quite a while and then handed the glasses to Diane and pointed. “Look at the rocks over there.”

Diane did as directed and handed the glasses to Caroline to do the same thing. In turn, Caroline handed them to Jill.

“They look like the rocks in the picture in the scrapbook, don’t they?” Caroline asked.

“I think they might be,” Claire answered. “I’m going down there. Who wants to come?”

Jill rolled her eyes skyward. “I don’t suppose we really have a choice do we?”

“Sure you do, as long as someone else wants to stay with you,” Claire replied, already heading for the stairs.

Caroline took the binoculars from Jill and returned them to the backpack. “Come on Jill, we’ll take our time.” By the time Jill and Caroline reached the bottom of the lighthouse, Claire and Diane had the bikes unlocked and were seated waiting for them. “We’re going to try to get down to the beach where the rocks are. You can meet us down there,” Claire said, over her shoulder as she pushed off.

Claire and Diane followed the narrow road downhill for about a half a mile. The rocks they had seen from the lighthouse came into view, below them, along the shoreline. They slowed their speed looking for a path down to the beach. There was a pull-off but no discernable path.

“Looks like the only access to the rocks is from the beach,” Diane said.

“I think you’re right. It’s a steep grade, but I think we can walk down without too much trouble.”

Jill and Caroline pulled up beside them. Claire explained the plan and asked, “Are you game?”

Jill was hesitant but Caroline jumped right in. “Sure. Let’s take our lunch down there and eat. We can lock the bikes to each other here.”

Carrying their things, they carefully picked their way through the brambles and Rugosa roses.

“Ouch!” Diane yelled. “Do you see the size of the thorns on these rose bushes? Who would have ever planted roses out here?”

Claire giggled. “No one. They’re wild and about the only thing that will bloom this close to the ocean.” She barely finished her sentence when Jill suddenly was rolling past her down the hill.

All they could do was watch her go. Jill finally stopped spread eagle on the sand. Racing toward her the others bent down to see if she was okay.

“Are you hurt?” Claire asked.

“Who the hell’s idea was this,” Jill whispered. “I can hardly breathe. There’s something in the middle of my back.”

Carefully, Caroline rolled Jill onto her side and pulled a rock out from under her. “Oh my, that’s going to bruise for sure.”

Diane helped Caroline inspect the rest of Jill’s body. “You’ll live. Sit up and we’ll get you something to drink.”

Jill obeyed. “You owe me big time for this,” she said, looking up at Claire.

“I’m sorry, Jill. You’re right, I’ll buy you lunch or a beer or something,” Claire replied, trying to look serious.

“Are you laughing at me?” Jill asked, wide-eyed.

The others looked at each other and covered their mouths with their hands.

“Well,” Caroline said. “You did look pretty funny. You know how it is when someone falls, it’s just a natural reflex to laugh.”

“Just get me something to drink will you?”

Diane handed her a bottle of water and Caroline unpacked the lunch. Claire had walked to the water’s edge and was inspecting the rocks. The beach was in a sheltered cove. The rocks started fairly small but became larger as they followed the shoreline toward the lighthouse. This would be the beginning of the outcropping of rocks they had seen below the lighthouse. The lighthouse stood high above them in the distance. When Claire walked closer to the rocks, she could not see the lighthouse, which would mean nobody at the lighthouse, could see anyone standing this close to the rocks. Walking back to the water’s edge she waded in up to her knees.

Jill watched her apprehensively. “What is she doing?”

“I’ll go find out,” Diane said, standing and walking toward Claire.

By now Claire was up to her thighs in the water. “Claire,” Diane called. “What are you doing?”

Claire motioned for Diane to join her.

“Are you kidding? The water’s freezing.”

“Oh, come on. It’s important.”

Diane took off her shoes and socks and waded out to her friend. “What is so important that we will either be swept out to sea or catch pneumonia?”

The waves hitting the women made them fight to stay on their feet. Claire was intent on studying the beach and the road above it.

“Look Diane,” she said, pointing above Jill and Caroline sitting on the beach blanket. “Doesn’t that look like the spot where the truck might have been parked in the picture in the scrapbook?”

“Possibly,” Diane admitted. “But that was so long ago. Things change.”

“Yes, of course, but that road has been here probably as long as the lighthouse.”

“Okay, so can we go back now?” Diane asked, feeling her legs go numb from the cold water.

Claire slowly moved her gaze from the road to the beach and then to the rocks to her left. “Yeah, we can go back.”

Diane started back toward the beach. Thinking Claire was still behind her Diane continued to the blanket and sat down. “Did anyone bring a towel?”

“What is she up to now?” Jill asked, before anyone could answer. She pointed to Claire climbing over the rocks.

“Oh, for crying out loud.” Exasperated, Diane got to her feet and went after Claire who had disappeared behind the rocks.

“Claire! Where are you?” Diane yelled, approaching the rocks.

There was no answer.

Diane found footholds and places to grip the rocks and started climbing. When she reached the top of a large rock, she could look down into a narrow space between the rocks. Claire was standing in waist deep water.

“Diane, I think there’s a cave.”

“Claire, come back here right now. This is dangerous.”

Either Claire did not hear her or she ignored her because she walked between the rocks and disappeared.

“Claire. Stop! Come back,” Diane yelled, but there was no answer. “Oh damn, now I have to come after you,” she muttered, as she crawled down the other side of the rocks. Finally, she stepped into the water and looked for Claire. Fighting the waves, and the shifting sand under her feet, she walked into the opening where Claire had disappeared. The water was now chest deep and she was freezing. “Claire, where are you?”

“I’m in here, Diane. Keep walking. It gets shallow.”

Diane half walked and half swam until she could feel solid ground under her feet.